Rail bond and method of making same



Nov. 10, 1931. F. H. NEFF RAIL BOND AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Sept. 19, 19.19

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Patented Nov. 10, 1931 FRANK, H. were, for" CLEVEIJANDQ "OI-I10,

Assisi-Nor. r THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY I 'mrnovnmnnricomnnxorotuvnnenn, care, A CORPORATION or OHIO IRAIL Bonn AND ET OD OF'MAKING-SAME Appl ic'atio n filed September 7 Thepresent improvements relate to arail bond of thetype in; which thebodyis made of copper orother metal having a relatively low fusing point, and the terminal or termi-, nals-then-formedby attaching to the end or. ends ofisuch bodyportion a plate or acket of,

metal, for example iron or steel, having a relatively high fusing point, approaching.

that of the rail towhichthebond is to be attached. Bonds of this type areusually thus attached to thegrail throughthe medium offused metal derived from an arc pencil, in

1 the fashionidescribedfor example in U.; S.

-, Patent No. 1,168,753 'toBenjaminF.

man, datedJanuary 18,1916.

Sill

The object of the ,present invention is to provide a bond havingaterminal of the sort described, that may bereadily applied to theendsof the conductor. body,-the latter usu-. ally consisting of astranded cable,as is well known. A furtherobject is toprovid'e a ter-.

minal that readily lends itself to the method of attaching, wherein an arc pencil is-used,

asjust described. At the same time ef-course, 3 it is desirable'to insure a thorough electr1cal.

connect on between conductor and terminal,

and between the latter and the rail.

and related ends, the invention, then, consists 1' of the means and steps hereinafter fully d scribed and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the follow: ing description setting forth 1n detall certain means embodying the invention, which, howi ever, constitute but one of the several ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed draw1ngs:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a bond terminal embodying my present improvements Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, and Fig. 3 a,

vertical section thereof, as applied to a rail; while Figs. 4 and 5 are rectangularly related sections showing the terminal in the course of its manufacture; and Figs. 6 and 7 are in: side and outside views respectively of the, terminalmember, Fig. 8 a vertical section of the same, separate and apart from the conductor to which such member is applied in:

the completed article; and Figs. 9 and 1.0

19,- 1919 Serial No. 324,905.13

a a modified construction.

As previously indicated, the body I of the bond is of familiar type, consisting of a flexible stranded cable (or plural cables) of copper, aluminumlor like metal of high electri cal conductivity, the ends of which are designed to be connected across a joint in the rails. To each such end is attached a terminal member of the sort which constitutes the feature of present interest. This member 2 is shown in Figs- 6, 7 and Sin the form it has previous to being applied tothe ends of the conductor or bond body; in Figs. 4 and 5 in course of application to such ends; in Figs. 1 and 2 as thus applied; and in Fig. 3 as in course,ofattachmentlto the rail. Such-terminal member is of ferrous metal, preferably a steel forging, having a solid head portion8 and a flanged portion 4: integral therewith, such flanged portion in turn having lateralextensions 5 adapted to be folded over so as to surround the end of the conductor; Both head and flange, as forged up, are preferably formed with an oval depression 6 in which in the's'pecific construction illustrated), may be placed, and it will be noted that the head extendslaterally approximately equal dis.-

thereby reinforced to a: degree, preventing their flattening out when the end of the conductor body isbrazed'or welded in such recess, which willbe presently described. A strip of brass will be wrapped around the cableends before they are insertedvin the terminal member, or equivalent braze material of the flange, such ends are clamped more or less 'iirmlyto the terminal. The preliminarily assembled terminal is-then placed between electrodes 7 and 8as shown in Figs. 4. and 5, which are included in a suitable electric cir-J the end'of the conductor, (or the ends if two or, more cables compose such conductor) ,as To the accomplishment of the foregoing is otherwise suitably introduced. Thereupon, by folding over the lateral extensions,

cuit 9, so that heat will be generated sufficient to partially fuse or soften both the end of the conductor and the flange portion of the terminal surrounding the same, together with the interposed braze material. Through the exercise of a proper degree of pressure, when this stage is reached, such flange is consolidated with the stranded material of the bond, and the latter wholly fills the tubular portion of the terminal which the folded over flange in effect provides.

In order to attach the terminal to a red,

the latter is brought, preferably with the side on which the end of the conductor is exposed, i. e. the side corresponding with the open face of the terminal in its original form, disposed towards the rail face. The face of the terminal in question is preferably formed at an angle, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4., so that the vided to assist in retaining the fused metal 11' upper face of the terminal inclines inwardly the rail 10. A pocket is thus in effect .pro-

of the arc pencil 12, so that a bodyof metal from such pencil is built up on the ledge which the upper face of the terminal presents. The'finished terminal, after the bond is attached, will then present the appearance shown in cross-section in Fig. 3.

If desired, the lateral extensions 5 of the terminal may be omitted and the ends of the cables be left laterally exposed as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, after they have been weld-ed or brazed as previously described in the recess 6 i in such terminal, or, instead of bending these extensions inwardly before the step in question, the cable ends may be first welded or brazed and such extensions then folded over.

' In each of the several constructions described, the body of the terminal, it will be observed, affords a complete protection for the ends of the cables from the intense heat of the are when the band is being attached one here explained, change being made in the form or construction, provided the elements stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether produced by my preferred method or by others embodying steps equivalent to those stated in the following claims.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 2- 1. As an article of manufacture, a railbond comprising a conductor body of a metal of relatively low fusing point, and a terminal of a metal of relatively high fusing point, said terminal having a head formed With a depression in one face and having solid oppositely directed extensions on either side of such depression, and a flange depending from said head in line with such depression, the end of said condudor being received in such depression and said flange substantially surrounding such conductor end. 7

2. As an article of manufacture, a railbond comprising a conductor body of a metal of relatively low fusing point, and a terminal of a metal of relatively high fusing point, said terminal having a head formed with a depression in one face and having solid oppositely directed extensions on either side ofsuch depression and a flange depending from said head in line with such depression, the end of said conductor bei received in such depression and termin ifily abutting against said head and said flange having lateral extensions folded around such conductor-end.

3. A terminal for a. rail bond conductor comprising a head formed with a depression in one face and having solid oppositely directed extensions on either side of such depression, and a flange depending from said head in line with such depression, said flange being formed with a lateral extension.

' 4. A terminal for a rail bond conductor comprising an elongated head formed with a depression in one face and having solid oppositely directed extensions on each s'de of such depression, and a flange depending from said head in line with such depression, said flange being formed with a lateral extension on each side. I v

Signed by me, this 16th day of Septemim',

FRANK H. NEFF. 

